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Friday, March 29, 2013

Accurate TB tests needed in the private sector

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to take a heavy toll on Indians. Every year, India reports over two million TB cases. TB kills nearly 280,000 men, women and children and is one of the leading causes of death in the country. In the past year, untreatable forms of drug-resistant TB cases have been reported in cities like Mumbai.

TB mostly affects the lungs and the most important symptoms include chronic cough for two weeks or more and fever. If TB is diagnosed quickly and if six months of antibiotics are taken regularly, nearly all patients can be fully cured.